High blood pressure can cause a number of serious health problems, but thankfully it is a health issue that can be successfully treated with medication. Furosemide, also known under the generic name of Lasix, is a diuretic drug that helps to eliminate salt and water from the body, which in turn helps to lower blood pressure.
Furosemide was licensed by the FDA in July 1982 and is currently used by many physicians to treat blood pressure and edema in adults and children, although due to its strong diuretic effect, the drug should only be administered under strict medical supervision as it can cause a serious depletion of body water, salts, and minerals. The drug is also administered to race horses in the US, although it is banned in other countries as it can enhance performance.
The drug works by preventing the absorption of salts and water from the blood as it passes through the kidneys. This causes a large increase in the amount of urine expelled from the body. Furosemide normally begins to work within one hour of being taken and the effects can last between six and eight hours, although it can take a lot longer for blood pressure to begin lowering and many patients do not experience the full benefits until several weeks after beginning treatment with Furosemide.
The recommended dosage of Furosemide will vary between patients, but the typical dose for treating hypertension in an adult patient will be 40mg twice daily. A common one off starting dose for adults is between 20mg and 80mg. This can be re-administered 6-8 hours later and the dosage can be safely increased by 20-40mg until a significant diuretic effect has been achieved.
Furosemide is also safe to use in children, although doses higher than 6mg per kg in body weight are not recommended. The normal starting dose for a child is 2mg/kg in weight and this should be administered orally. The dose can be increased by 1-2mg/kg every 6-8 hours until the diuretic effect has been achieved.
But whilst Furosemide, or Lasix as it is also known, is a very effective treatment for high blood pressure, it should not be considered a permanent cure for the condition. Further treatment might be necessary and medication should only be taken under direct supervision from a health professional.
As well as local pharmacies, Furosemide can also be purchased from online pharmacies and this can often help you make considerable savings on the purchase price.
